-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 M/Du/3GokfE/S/P39EcOooLN+24xigc6ZYiM4dLaRa9S3FR5eESPyNxDVw3rZnp5
 zQ6XmTpocb+nX86hg0xesQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000075252-10-000082.txt : 20100726
<SEC-HEADER>0000075252-10-000082.hdr.sgml : 20100726
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100726075950
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000075252-10-000082
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100726
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100726

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Broaddus J Alfred Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001298933

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09810
		FILM NUMBER:		10968430

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4800 COX ROAD
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OWENS & MINOR INC/VA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075252
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MEDICAL, DENTAL & HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5047]
		IRS NUMBER:				541701843
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9120 LOCKWOOD BLVD
		CITY:			MECHANICSVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8047237000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9120 LOCKWOOD BLVD
		CITY:			MECHANICSVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23116

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	O&M HOLDING INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940504

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OWENS & MINOR INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OWENS MINOR & BODEKER INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19811124
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-07-22</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075252</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OWENS &amp; MINOR INC/VA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OMI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001298933</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Broaddus J Alfred Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9120 LOCKWOOD BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MECHANICSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-07-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>195</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.18</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>195</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19784</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of phantom stock are convertible on a 1-for-1 basis and become payable, in cash or common stock, at the election of the reporting person, upon the occurrence of one of the following (as elected in advance by the reporting person): (a) death, (b) disability, (c) termination of service as director, (d) specified future delivery date, or (e) the earliest to occur of (a), (b), (c) or (d).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Alfred Broaddus, Jr., by Rosemarie France POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-07-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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